Here are some of the things that I do, these are things the Coaching Association has requested but some schools I have noticed do not do. These make it a lot easier to follow the game.

 

1. Begin filming at the huddle break, if in no huddle offense begin filming while team is walking to the line.

2. Film three seconds after the whistle has stopped the play.

3. Film one yard behind the deepest back on offense, and one Yard behind the deepest LB on defense.

4. Film the down and distance markers between each play.

5. Film the scoreboard after every score and at the end of each quarter.

6. Film the coverage of kicks not trying to find the ball in air.

7. Film official hand signals for penalties.

8. Film wide on kicks.

9. Stop the tape between plays and between showing down markers and scoreboard. This make the tap about 50 minutes instead of an hour and a half.

Good post, Ram. Just for conversation, I have never seen film that follows this. Has anyone else?

I'm glad someone is trying to straighten up the filming process, I have seen some that were unwatchable.

Good post, Ram. Just for conversation, I have never seen film that follows this. Has anyone else?

 

We started to do it two years ago. It really helps with situational calls. It helps us, I know it help opponents too, but no one can say we don't give them quality film.

We started to do it two years ago. It really helps with situational calls. It helps us, I know it help opponents too, but no one can say we don't give them quality film.

 

Excellent. I wonder what the sanctions are for teams that produce "iffy" films?

Excellent. I wonder what the sanctions are for teams that produce "iffy" films?

 

That, I don't know. But, I would say it will be tested soon.:lol:

That, I don't know. But, I would say it will be tested soon.:lol:

 

I would say you are right. Good to see the coaches' association and KHSAA taking a proactive approach.

Ram, just curious but do you volunteer your time?

Thanks for the KHSAA link and the additional information provided in this thread... great stuff!

 

We started to do it two years ago. It really helps with situational calls. It helps us, I know it help opponents too, but no one can say we don't give them quality film.

 

I'm retired now from filming for the past 4 years for Lexington Christian. We've traded with RAM & Co. for years, and their film quality is always top notch! As well as their preparation and competition... In Lexington we're all closet RAM fans... of course only when we're not playing each other!

 

Some of the things I saw transpire over the past 4 years with other teams during my involvement are:

 

When teams received GOOD quality film, the would tend to reciprocate with better quality film over time (that's how I got better over time as well... some teams we traded with had AWESOME film... and that stepped up my game as well). I'm guessing that the ONLY way this happened was when the coaching staff shared received film with the video person on staff. I'm guessing that 90% of the people performing the filming duties for a team shoot the Friday night game, and throw that over the fence to the coaching staff and are never involved in the process again until the next Friday night. So there is no perspective provided on what is "good" and what is "bad" from a film standpoint. I'd suggest that the video person sit in a coaching review session of the upcoming opponent and just monitor what goes on (just keep in mind you're a guest and not the main focus of those sessions... coaches like to focus on football and not technical video stuff). When you see the staff turn off the film and punt because it wasn't shot from a tripod and the entire staff was getting a headache watching it (drives home how important a tripod is). You'll also begin to gather a better understanding of why the list of "recommendations" was put together. Filming the sticks and penalties allow you to re-create a game, instead of seeing the team show up 30 yards down field and wonder what just happened? Was a play removed from the film... or just missed on accident (it happens to the best of us)... or were there two 15 yard penalties assessed?

 

As you can see in this thread already, several "teams" get a bad rap on their video provided... but the poor guy shooting the games has no feedback mechanism to get better. So he's getting slammed each and every week by the opposing coaches... and he just keeps assuming he's doing a great (or good enough) job.

 

I think it would be a great idea to provide some sample footage links somewhere (ideally with some audio commentary) over it explaining what is being filmed and why... and also show some BAD film, with audio commentary over that as well... just in case it isn't obvious why the film isn't optimal. Just some food for thought... RAM, if you'd like, I'd be more the happy to help you out with this since I do have a full video production studio at my disposal.

Ram, just curious but do you volunteer your time?

 

And then some. I am not on any pay roll for the school or any other association. I volunteer to film all games for Raceland and am very involved in the booster club. We also have a second volunteer that films the endzone view.

 

I understand that we at Raceland are blessed by a great support group that not all schools have. We are fortunate enough to have past parents, past players, and current parents who volunteer to do a lot for the program. But, I do think that manning the camera with an appropriate person should be a priority for every school. It should be as important as a coaching position. Almost everyone has a PA announcer, I would go as far as to say that if needed the PA guy should be used as a camera guy before he should be used as a PA announcer. It should be a priority for every school.

Thanks for the KHSAA link and the additional information provided in this thread... great stuff!

 

 

 

I'm retired now from filming for the past 4 years for Lexington Christian. We've traded with RAM & Co. for years, and their film quality is always top notch! As well as their preparation and competition... In Lexington we're all closet RAM fans... of course only when we're not playing each other!

As are we LCA fans all but two weeks a year. And of course LCA's film was always some of the best we received each year. You did a great job, I'll miss those conversations atop the press box.

Thanks for posting the guidelines. As a stat person, I will sometimes need to go back to film to finish (on rainy nights, when you can't keep your stat pages dry, for example). If the video person will follow these guidelines, it will also make stats more accurate.

And then some. I am not on any pay roll for the school or any other association. I volunteer to film all games for Raceland and am very involved in the booster club. We also have a second volunteer that films the endzone view.

 

I understand that we at Raceland are blessed by a great support group that not all schools have. We are fortunate enough to have past parents, past players, and current parents who volunteer to do a lot for the program. But, I do think that manning the camera with an appropriate person should be a priority for every school. It should be as important as a coaching position. Almost everyone has a PA announcer, I would go as far as to say that if needed the PA guy should be used as a camera guy before he should be used as a PA announcer. It should be a priority for every school.

Raceland is very blessed.

What about schools that do not allow volunteers of any kind though?

What about schools that do not allow volunteers of any kind though?

 

Not to step on anyone toes, but I say "shame on them". Now, I don't know what they should do as far as filming, but behind every quality high school program there are some dedicated volunteers.